Locking device for mail-bags



(No Model.)

A. LOYD 85 J. H. .FORRESTER. LOUKING DEVICE FOR MAIL BAGS.

, Patented A5 11, 1896.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER LOYD AND JAMES H.

PATENT OFFICE.

FORRESTER OF JACKSBOROUGH,

TENNESSEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 565,550, dated August11, 1896 Application filed. April 20,1396.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER LoYn and JAMES HOLLINGSWORTH FORRESTER,citizens of the United States, residing at Jacksborough, in the countyof Campbell and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Locking Devices for Mail-Pouches; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of mail bags or pouches in whichthe mouth at the top of the bag isclosed by a flap-cover carrying uponits inner face a series of lockingstaples that are adapted topassthrough the usual apertures provided in the upper part of the bag; andour invention consists, primarily, in the combination, with such a typeof mail-pouch, of a novel sliding locking-strap that is provided with aseries of lockingtongues arranged in alinement over a like numberofapertures formed in the top part of the bag, and which are adapted tomove synchronously into and out of engagement with locking-staples thatproject through said apertures, by means of a longitudinal thrustmechanism.

In the accompanying drawings the construction of our improvedlocking-strap and the manner of its application are fully illustrated.

Figure l is a front elevation of the outer end of a mail-pouch, showingthe pouch in a closed position with the improved lockingstrap thrownendwise out of locking engagement with the staples. Fig. 2 is a likeView of the same, showing the locking strap brought into engagement withthe lookingstaples. Fig. 3 represents the mouth of the bag in openposition with the flap-cover elevated. Fig. 4 is a top plan View of anend portion of the bag, on line XX, showing the retaining and lockingdevices.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

In the drawings, Arepresents a mail-pouch of ordinary construction,having a mouth at the top that is closed by a flap-cover B, secured tosaid pouch at the upper edge in a Serial No. 588,241. (No model.)

suitable manner. To the outer side of the flap B-is secured a flat stripof metal 0, com posed, preferably, of hinged sections 0 c, which stripis provided at each end with curved lips 5 5 c c, that are adapted topartly inclose the ends of the pouch thereat when the flap is in aclosed position. The inner face of the flap is provided with a series oflocking-staples D D D, that project therefrom, and that are retainedthereon by riveting to the strap 0. Both sides of the mouth of the bagare provided with a series of apertures a a a, each of which is adaptedto register with like apertures on the opposite side of the bag when themouth is closed, and they are so located that when the flap is foldedover the mouth of the bag the staples projecting therefrom can bereadily passed through the coinciding apertures on both sides of the bagto afford a means for locking the bag. The apertures are shown as beingreinforced with metal face-pieces a a a, which are properly secured tothe bag and which serve to maintain the integrity and shape of theapertures. 7 5 E represents a flat metal strap composed of hinged piecesE E E, that are provided with apertures coinciding with those formed inthe bag and face-pieces above referred to. This strap forms afiexiblestrap the width of the bag, and provides a framework at themouth of said bag that permits the mouth to be ex panded and maintainedthus extended when desired. F represents a locking-strap made,preferably, of wire rods shaped so as to form a plurality ofconnecting-links Z Z Z, that are hinged so as to lie flatwise againstthe bag and break joints with the strap-pieces E E E, located on theinterior face thereof. These links are formed, preferably, of brass orsteel wire material, and are so constructed each of a continuous strandfolded in such a manner as to present rectangular-shaped pieces ofsuitable length. Each link member comprises parallel side pieces withterminating eyes that are formed, respectively, by doubling a strandback upon itself at each end of a length of wire to a determinate pointand in such a manner as to form a continuous loop connecmo tion betweenthe side pieces thus formed. This loop is made into a tie-bar by beingfolded into a pair of return-bends that lie in the same plane, while theadjacent wire sections thereof are pressed closely together inparallelism to provide locking-tongues 2' '6 2', that extend inright-angular relation to the folds f f, that form a part of thetie-bar. When connected together, these links form a skeleton strap thatis light, strong, and flexible. The strap is then fastened to the bag bystaples g g g, that are riveted to the facepieces a a a, and whichprevent the movement of said strap except in a longitudinal direction.

H indicates a hinged lever, which serves as a handle for shifting thesliding lock-strap in either direction, and that provides a means forlocking the strap against longitudinal displacement when the tongues i ii have been thrown into engagement with the lockingstaples D D. Thislever consists of a flat rectangular bar having elongated opening 0 nearone end thereof, while its other end is shaped to form a hook or yoke ofa size adapted to fit and clamp one side end of the closed pouch whenthe lever is swung into a locking position. The lever is attached to thebag so as to fulcrum at to freely allow the yoke extremity thereof toswing into and out of engagement with the side edge of the bag whenlooking or unlocking the pouch, as well as to allow the flat portion ofthe lever carrying the elongated opening to be swung into lockin gposition with the fastening means 011 the lock on the other side of thebag. The locking-strap is secured to the lever II by a hookedconnecting-link that is also adapted to fit and clamp about the edge ofthe pouch when the lever is swung into a locking position. Saidconnecting-link is secured to the lever at N. This flat portion of thelever is also adapted to carry the labelholder m. The opposite end ofthe strap is provided with a hook J, that is formed of the free ends ofthe link thereat, and which is adapted to fit the side edge of the bagas a clamp. I

Having described our invention, what we desire to claim as new anduseful is 1. In a mail bag or pouch the combination with the mouth ofthe bag provided with transversely-alining apertures, and a flapcovercarrying projecting locking-staples that are adapted to pass throughsaid apertures, of a flexible locking-strap slidingly mounted on thelocking-face of said bag said strap comprising a series of link-pieceshaving tongues extending in a general direction, and terminating hookedlinks adapted to clamp about the respective edges of said pouch, andmeans for synchronously throwing the straptongues into and out ofengagement with the projecting staples and the hooked links into and outof engagement with the edges of the pouch, substantially as described.

2. In a mail bag or pouch, the combination with the mouth of the bagprovided with transversely-alining apertures, and a flapcover carryingprojectinglocking-staples that are adapted to pass through saidapertures, of a flexible strap slidingly mounted on one side of said bagand comprising a plurality of links hinged together, which are providedwith locking-tongues ranged in alinement over said apertures, and an endlink that is provided with a hook adapted to embrace the adjacent sideedge of the bag; and a lever means for throwing said tongues and hookinto and out of engagement with the projecting staples and side edge,respectively, substantially as described.

3. In a mail bag or pouch, the combination with the mouth of the bagprovided with transverselyalining apertures, and a flapcover carryingproj ecting locking-staples that are adapted to pass through saidapertures, of a flexible strap slidingly mounted 011 one side of saidbag and comprising a plurality of links hinged together, which areprovided with lockingtongues ranged in alinement over said apertures,and which terminate at either end of the strap in hooked projectionsthat are adapted to close about the edges of the pouch; and a levermeans for synchronously throwing said tongues in to engagement with theprojecting staples, and the hooked projections into clamping engagementwith the edges of the bag, said lever being so shaped and fulcrumed atone end as to be adapted to swing into engagement with fastening meanson the opposite side of the bag, thereby forminga protecting side-edgeclamp over the connecting hook projection of the lock-strap securedthereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ALEXANDER LOYD. JAMES H. FORRESTER.

\Vitnesses:

J OHN JENNINGS, A. D. RUTHERFORD.

